Foldable stand



I. C. BOWMAN FOLDABLE STAND May 1, 1951 2 Shoe'ts-Sheet Filed 001;. 22, 1945 frqaeiz b r. I Ira/m; CZowma/z,

May 1, 1951 l. c BOWMA N v FOLDABLE STAND 2 Sheets- Sheet 2' Filed Oct. 22, 1945 m I n I m p n n p I m W (J 8 w wr W a. @m%

w fl w Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED s'rAres PATENT owe-t X'FOLDA-BLE STAND Irwin C. Bowman, Qhicago, Ill. A p ca ion lopt her' 4:5 er a .NQ- 623,780

4 Cl ims- The invention relates to collapsible stands.

' One object of the invention is to provide astand which is collapsible when not in use and includes a top which is adapted for use as a tray.

Another object of the invention i to provide a collapsible stand of this type which can be fabricated of light material, such as cardboard or plywood, in quantities at a low cost.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

1 n the-drawings:

Fig. 1 is -a perspective of a stand set up for use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the stand partly folded, for illustrative purposes.

Fig. 3 is a section of the stand taken .on line 3.3 of Fig. '2, with the parts :fully collapsed.

:Fig. 4 is ahorizontalsection takenomline l-.4 of :Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the stand whenset up for use.

Fig. 16 is -a plano'f the blanksheet fromw hioh thebody of the stand is formed.

The invention is exemplified ,in astand which comprises generally, a series of side-panels of sheet material which form .a symmetrical supportingbody, and have theircontiguous margins 'foldably joined together so :they may be,collapsed into-substantially parallelrelation, a foldable inner-.top-panel for holdingthe side-panels in supporting relation, and an article-supporting top, foldably connected to :the upper end of the body so :it will overlie and be supported by the body when thelatter is extendedtfor use, and -.so itwill be foldable into substantially parallel relation with "the panels when the body is collapsed.

. The side-panels are formed of light-weight sheet material, such, for example, as cardboard or other. suitable material. .When-the side-panels are spread apart, they-form a symmetricalibody which is polygonal .in horizontal cross-section, preferably hexagonal, whereby the article-sup.- portingtop 9 is firmly and horizontally supported for use. These panelsinclude-a front-panel lfl-, a back-panel .l.l, land a pair of side-panels l2 between each end of th e frontand back panels.

' These panels are foldably joined'at their meeting edges ,as at l;3-;to permit-the panels ito be folded or collapsed into substantially parallel relation. The panels are integral and rendered foldable relatively to one another by scoring alon theinmeeting edges.

tWhenthe stand is in its extended position for use,. the side-panels function as vertically rigid legs for firmlysupporting the -top 9, a nd the leaves |4.- and.l5.of theinner-tdp horizontally connect and preventspreadingfths front-panel l0 and back-panel l I and hold all the upright panels'in symmetrical relation. fljhe standinay 2 be collapsed by swinging the top 9 into parallel relation to the back-panel II, as top ,9 ,is thus swung, and leaves l4 and I5 .will be folded to,- gether andmove panels 10, II and I2 together.

The inner top-panel includes ,a pair of leaves 14 and I5 which have their inner ends foldably joined at iii. The outer margin of leaf i4 is foldably joined to the back-panel H at I-fl, and the outer margin of leaf i5 is foldably joined to the front-panel at I 8 by .a flap 20 which is se cured by an adhesive to the front face of panel ll]. -When the .body and leaves 14, 1-5 are extended, this inner top-panel holds oppositely disposedpanels I 0 and H against spreading, and the body symmetrically extended. The supporting :top 9 is secured to the upper face of leaf rMby-a suitable adhesive andis foldablewith said leaf. 1When the ,body is extended, thetop 9 .w -ill be supportedby the connected upright panels till, H and I2. When the body and leaves I4 and {5 of the top-panel are co11apsed,-thesupportingtop 9wi1l be in parallel relation with the side-panels :IU, Hand I2.

-In order to providefor holding the stand against collapse, and conveniently transporting it .while articles rest on the top, a hand-hole or opening 23 is formed in the front-panel 1 0, a thumb-hole 2 is formed in leaf I5 and a thumb-hole 25 ,is formed in 'top *9. -=-By grasping top 9 and leaves I14, l5 of theinner top-panel between the thumb and fingers-of one'hand,-a1l of the 'foldable parts of the entire :stand may be firmly held in extended relation and against collapse, for transporting the top 9-with articles thereon until the stand is setron the floor. Thisprovision for conveniently grasping-thetop 9 andtheinnertoppanel renders-means for locking'the foldable elementsinposition. When-the stand rests onthe floor, .top .9 and inner top-panel M, I Sholdthe panelsJO, ll. and l2 in symmetricalrelationfor supportingthe top 9.

The .inventioncontemplates ,forming the body, including.thefront-panel. l-lL-back-panel H sidepanels. [2 and leaves. [4,. l.5. of. the inner-top-panel from .a single .piece ,p-r blank ,of suitable sheet material,.as illustrated in-Fig. ,6. The sheet is scoredas.v at 3 .to.;form,flexible .joints between the front, .side and-backpanels, of the-body; "as at J! f0rm.,a-flexiblejol-nt between-back-panel l-l ,-and-.leaf 1.4 01 the i-nner ztopepanel; as at .l6 to form a flexible joint between leaves- Hand; and asat l 8 toform a'ilexiblejoint-between leaf 5, and theflaplll which issecured :to-front-panel H). -The sheetwisealso scored as at-26 to.provide a-fianZ-l which laps one margin of the front-panel l 0 .and is .secured "thereto -;by an adhesive.

--In-fabric'ating-the body theflap 21 is secured to one oi the side marginson the -front-panel l l and the flap 2-0 is secured to the upper margin of the front panell0. The -top ilis also fori nled of. suitable sheet material, such as cardboard or plywood.

When the stand is extended, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the supporting top 9 will be firmly supported on the body and will hold the leaves I4 and I5 of the inner top-panel against relative movement to prevent collapse of the body. When the stand is extended and to be transported, the user will insert a hand through the opening 23, and grasp the top 9 and leaves it, E5 of the inner top-panel, through openings coincident 2 and 25. The stand is particularly adapted for use as a small table or support for serving refreshments, and for that purpose is light in weight. Preferably, the upper face of the top 9 is provided with a suitable finish to render it resistant to liquids and readily cleanable.

When the stand is not in use, it may be collapsed so that the body and top 9 will be in substantially parallel relation. A large number may be stacked in a small space or, if desired, may be hung on hooks which are adapted to extend through the thumb-hole 25 in the top 9.

The invention exemplifies a suitable stand of the character described which may be advantageously used in serving foods or liquid refreshments, which is foldable for convenient storage, can be produced at a low cost, readily extended and foldable, and which is provided with simple means for grasping the stand and holding it against collapse when transporting articles there The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these'may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible stand adapted to be transported by one hand and comprising a continuous series of flat upright side-panels formed of sheet material and having the contiguous side margins thereof foldably connected together in order that they may be collapsed into substantially parallel relation and spread laterally to form a self-sustaining vertical body, a top- -panel including a pair of foldably joined leaves extending between, and

foldably joined to, the upper ends of two opposite side-panels, and a fiat article-supporting top fixedly secured on one of the leaves, adapted to overlie and project from the side-panels when they arespread apart and to rest on the toppanel, and foldable into substantially parallel relation with the side-panels and the leaves when the body and leaves are collapsed, one of the side panels and one of the leaves and the top being provided with means whereby the top and top-panel may be grasped and pressed together by one hand to prevent folding together of the leaves and collapse of the body when the stand is being transported.

2. A collapsible stand adapted to be transported by one hand and comprising a continuous series of upright fiat side-panels formed of sheet material and having the contiguous side-margins thereof foldably connected together in order that they may be collap ed into substantially parallel relation and spread to form a self-sustaining vertical body, a top-panel including a pair of foldably joined leaves extending between, and foldably joined to, the upper ends of two opposed sidepanels, and a flat article-supporting top fixedly secured on one of the leaves, adapted to overlie and project from the side-panels when they are spread apart and to rest on the top panel, and foldable into substantially parallel relation with the side-panels and the leaves when the body and leaves are collapsed, one of the side-panels and one of the leaves and the top being provided with openings whereby the top and top-panel may be grasped and pressed together by one hand to prevent folding of the leaves and collapse of the body when the stand is being transported.

3. A collapsible stand adapted to be carried by one hand and comprising a continuous series of six upright flat side-panels formed of sheet material and having the contiguous side-margins thereof foldably connected together so that they may be collapsed into substantially parallel relation and spread to form a self-sustaining vertical hexagonal body, a top-panel including a pair of foldably joinedleaves extending between, and foldably joined to, the upper ends of two opposed side panels, and a flat article-supporting top fixedly secured on one of the leaves, adapted to overlie and project from the side-panels when they are spread apart and to rest by gravity on the top-panel, and foldable into substantially parallel relation with the side-panels and the leaves when the body and leaves are collapsed, one of the side-panels and one of the leaves and the top being provided with means whereby the top and top-panel may be grasped and pressed together by one hand to prevent folding of the leaves and collapse of the body when the stand is being transported. i

4. A collapsible stand adapted to be carried by one hand and comprising a continuous series of six flat upright side-panels formed of sheet material and having their contiguous side-margins foldably connected together so that they may be collapsed into substantially parallel relation and spread to form a self-sustaining vertical hexagonal body, a top-panel including a pair of foldably joined leaves extending between, and foldably joined to, the upper ends of two oppositely disposed side-panels, and a fiat article-supporting top fixedly secured on one of the leaves, adapted to overlie and project from the sidepanels when they are spread apart and to rest on the top-panel, and foldable into substantially parallel relation with the side-panels and the leaves when the body and leaves are collapsed, one of the side-panels being provided with a hand opening and one of the leaves and the top being provided with finger openings whereby the top and top-panel may be grasped and pressed together by one hand to prevent folding together of the leaves and collapse of the body when the stand is being transported.

, IRWIN C. BOWAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 900,552 Kade, Oct. 6, 1908 2,240,024 Stone et al Apr. 29, 1941 2,295,860 Oliver Sept. 5, 1942 2,326,648 Horr Aug. 10, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 475,159 Great Britain Nov. 11, 1937 

